ALDERSON — William McKinley "Bill" Bryant, age 85, of Alderson, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at the Brier Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Ronceverte, W.Va., following a short illness.

Born April 8, 1929 in Buena Vista, Va., he was the son of the late Rufus and Iva Ellen McElroy Bryant. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann "Lib" Housby Bryant--the love of his life and wife of nearly 59 years; a son, Wayne Bryant; his brother, Don Bryant; and his sister, Dorothy Bryant Wood.

Mr. Bryant graduated from Alderson High School in 1948 and West Virginia University in 1952. While at WVU, he was a member of the West Virginia University Mountaineer football team and Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was a high school football coach and social studies teacher in Alderson, W.Va. and Rainelle, W.Va., before joining the management program at Sears Roebuck in Virginia. Mr. Bryant’s career with Sears spanned over 30 years and took him and his family to Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. In 1987, he retired to Alderson, W.Va. with his wife, Lib.

Mr. Bryant was active in all the communities in which he lived, serving on the boards of directors for various charities and civic organizations across the southeast. While in Alderson, he served with Alderson Main Street and the Alderson Public Library, was a member of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, and greatly enjoyed visiting with friends at the Big Wheel Restaurant.

Survivors include a son, Gary Bryant and his wife, Debbie, of Wabash, Ind.; a daughter, Ann McCullen and her husband, David, of Hattiesburg, Miss.; three grandchildren, Erik Bryant, Melissa Taulbee and her husband, Jake, and Elizabeth McCullen; a great-grandson, Clayton Taulbee; a niece, Patti Hunter and her husband, Russell; and a nephew, Jarrett "Butch" Wood, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Mr. Bryant will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, Alderson, W.Va. with the Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan officiating. Burial will follow at the Old Greenbrier Memorial Cemetery, Alderson, W.Va. Friends may call Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, Alderson, W.Va.

For those considering an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alderson Ministerial Association, P.O. Box 641, Alderson, WV 24910, or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.